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Recently, many image encryption algorithms have been proposed. Part of them failed to pass the cryptanalysis test and were found to be unsecure. Some others were more secure and could resist the known cryptanalysis methods. Many of those recent schemes followed a well-known model that consists of encrypting the image's pixels using a variety of techniques and methods. Many algorithms were claimed to be secure and performant to be used in real applications. This paper investigates this claim by performing a comparative analysis between a chaotic algorithm recently proposed and the standard general purpose AES cryptosystem in a web application context. The experimental tests conducted on both algorithms in this paper proved that the pixel-wise algorithms are not suitable for this kind of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this commentary, I focus on an international, collaborative, longitudinal study of the development of elementary school students' math motivation and performance across six countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, and Serbia. The investigators designed motivational questionnaires to assess student motivational beliefs defined quite broadly, teacher and student questionnaires to assess teacher beliefs and practices, and family questionnaires to assess parents' beliefs and practices as well as perceptions of their children and then tested to reliability and validity of these measures across all six countries so that they could investigate both development within countries and generalizability across countries. I focus my comparative comments on the following themes that cut across the various studies: the gender, national and SES differences, the impact of teacher beliefs and practices, the impact of parents, and the testing hypotheses derived from various social cognitive motivational systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanizing villages are erstwhile rural villages that are spatially enveloped and are characterized by their dual relation to the state, which expresses itself as an issue of citizenship; of land ownership; of governance; and building regulations. This paper transcends the current focus on villages in Southern China, by comparing village urbanization between China and India through four narratives of village extensions. Four parallel readings are offered, namely that urban villages are characterized by; shared tenure rooted in their rural past; inherited administrative boundaries that are re-imbued with new legal designations; emulation of traditional practices; and sustained modes of self-governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Society for Consumer Protection in Jordan is a non-governmental organization seeking to educate the public on consumer problems. The objective of this paper was to elucidate the role of this association and the challenges it faces in the absence of courts for consumers and the failure to activate the role of the Consumer Protection Association in defending consumers. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of this association and the challenges it faces in the absence of defending the rights of consumers and pleading before the courts on their behalf. This research has been achieved by adopting numerous study techniques and methodologies. In this study, numerous methods are employed; the online questionnaire method (survey online), and doctrinal method. the researcher has also conducted online questionnaire. The purpose was to get responses from laymen in of this method was to support and achieve the objectives of this study and to get feedback from consumer in Jordan particularly on the issues regarding to the role of Consumers Association in Jordan. The main objective of this paper is to given the Consumer Protection Association in Jordan the legal stand in defending the rights of consumers, as it was found through the result that the Jordanian legislator did not give the association the legal authority to defend consumers. Thus, this study also gives suggestions to the private agency such as legal committee of Consumers Association to strengthen its power legally and formally in Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of global patent trends in battery recycling, focusing on secondary batteries and related technologies across Korea, China, and the United States. The methodology involved collecting data from various patent databases, followed by quantitative analysis to identify technology trends and guide future development. The research employed statistical tools to analyze patent activities, including the frequency and scope of patent filings, and comparative analysis to highlight differences between countries. This study reveals distinct emphases on technologies such as lithium-ion and waste battery recycling, highlighting notable differences in patent activities among key companies and countries. China's large number of patents in battery manufacturing processes contrasts with the USA's focus on electrochemical cell construction and storage systems, while Korea shows significant activity in waste battery technology. The novelty of this paper lies in its detailed comparative analysis of patent trends across these three major economies, providing insights into the technological focuses and priorities of each country. The study also identifies key challenges, such as the need for consistent innovation and broader geographic coverage in Korea, enhancing patent influence and international presence in China, and ensuring high patent quality and fostering innovation in lagging sectors in the United States. Addressing these challenges through enhanced collaboration, increased R&D investments, and supportive policies is crucial for strengthening the global position and driving further innovation in the battery recycling sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses 24 European Union countries in terms of food security in 2021. In this paper, we develop a composite food security index considering various weights of indicators. The data were obtained from the FAOSTAT and Eurostat databases. The weights of 10 input indicators were estimated using a principal component analysis-based factor analysis model. The results showed that the harmonised index of consumer prices -- food had the greatest impact on the food security index, while the impact of median equivalised net income and moderate or severe food insecurity had the lowest impact. Ireland achieved the highest ranking according to the Food Security Index. Bulgaria experienced the most unfavourable situation among EU countries. Slovakia ranked 22nd out of 24 countries due to its lowest protein supply, including animal-derived proteins. As part of the analysis, our research compared the food security index with the official Global Food Security Index. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.84 indicated a robust correlation between the two indexes. Consequently, this newly developed Food Security Index is appropriate for assessing the food security status of European Union countries. Furthermore, it broadens the assessment of food security by including countries that are not in the commonly used Global Food Security Index (GFSI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Peritoneal disease in gastric cancer has a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 3–6 months and a 5-year survival rate of 0%. Despite multiple advancements in therapeutics, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend systemic chemotherapy or best supportive care for GC with peritoneal dissemination. According to several studies, CRS + HIPEC could provide survival advantages in gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis compared to pSC. Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is one of deadliest metastatic patterns of gastric cancer, being associated with a median overall survival (OS) of 4 months. Up to now, palliative systemic chemotherapy (pSC) has been the only recommended treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate a potential survival benefit after CRS + HIPEC compared to pSC. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines in March 2024. Manuscripts reporting patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer treated with CRS + HIPEC were included. A meta-analysis was performed, comparing the survival results between the CRS + HIPEC and pSC groups, and the primary outcome was the comparison in terms of OS. We performed random-effects meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs). We assessed heterogeneity using the Q2 statistic. Results: Out of the 24 papers included, 1369 patients underwent CRS + HIPEC, with a median OS range of 9.8–28.2 months; and 103 patients underwent pSC, with a median OS range of 4.9–8 months. CRS + HIPEC was associated with significantly increased survival compared to palliative systemic chemotherapy (−1.8954 (95% CI: −2.5761 to −1.2146; p < 0.001). Conclusions: CRS + HIPEC could provide survival advantages in gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis compared to pSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tricuspid valve repair (TVR) combined with mitral valve surgery (MVS) has been a controversial issue. It is not clear whether the combined surgery has any influence on the occurrence of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to compare the occurrence of complications including wound infection, wound bleeding, and mortality after MVS combined with or without TVR. By meta‐analysis, a total of 1576 papers were collected from 3 databases, and 7 of them were included. We provided the necessary data of 7 included studies such as the authors, publication date, country, surgical approach and case number, patient age, and so on. Statistical analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3 software. We found that patients with heart failure accepting MVS combined with or without TVR, performed no statistically significant difference in postoperative wound infection (OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.29, 2.62; P = 0.81), wound bleeding (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.3, 1.48; P = 0.39), and mortality (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.42, 2.61; P = 0.92). In conclusion, current evidence indicated that the combined surgery had no additional risk of postoperative complications, and might be an effective alternative surgical approach to mitral valve diseases accompany with tricuspid regurgitation. However, for the limited case size, it was required to support the findings with a large number of cases in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show how changes in survey design, supervision, and data collector affect travel survey data. The results can be used by policymakers and travel behaviour researchers when evaluating or choosing survey design. A document study of public documentation of national travel survey (NTS) methodology, and research using NTS data material from six European countries were conducted to compare the survey design of their respective NTSs. The results show that all countries included in this analysis have some sort of quality challenges. However, the countries have handled them differently, at different stages, and the transparency of the data collection process varies. Transparency in the data collection process and processing of data is essential for improving the survey design, evaluating quality, and ensuring that the time series is intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper engages in a comparative analysis of two prominent figures from the 2d century CE—Lucian of Samosata and Justin the Martyr. Lucian, the epideictic orator and social commentator, reintroduces the Olympians while rethinking paganism and engaging with Justin and the Apologists. Conversely, Justin, embodying the Christian pepaideumenos, places the new religion at the literary forefront and questions the stereotype of Christian simplicity. The paper argues that, in the context of reformative, paideutic Imperial culture, Lucian and Justin challenge the literary and religious status quo and engage the readers in a reconsideration of Christianity through the lens of the Second Sophistic and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] This article addresses the lack of legislation in India to govern digital currencies, as well as the legality of Bitcoin in comparison to Russia's ban on other digital assets for payment regulation, highlighting the necessity for effective legislation once all around the world. It further delves into potential misuse of private cryptocurrencies in a variety of ways while placing upon the need for both countries to form a new digital currency regulatory authority. [Methodology/Approach/Design] This paper probes into the existing legal regulations for Cryptocurrency in India, Russia and other countries by using primary and secondary data throughout the paper. The primary data have been taken from legitimate government sources such as Russia's federal law and other bills and laws enacted in India, such as the "Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019" and "The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021." Various judgments like the case of Internet and Mobile Association of India v. Reserve Bank of India and Dwaipayan Bhowmick v. Union Of India and Ors. have been taken out from Manupatra which is an online database for legal research. Government reports and notifications from the Indian, Russian and US government have also been examined. The secondary data include numerous news articles from Times of India, The Mirror, India Times, The Moscow Times, Telegraph, The UK News and other new sites. Lastly, articles by various researchers like Bohme et al, Dyhrberg and Kim have also been thoroughly analysed. [Findings] It was concluded that legalising Cryptocurrency through codified laws, appropriate approval for digital currencies through regulatory authorities, establishing clear definition of 'cryptocurrency', uniform taxation for all types of Cryptocurrencies, updation of penal laws and setting imprisonment for cryptocurrency regulation violation seem to be some effective solutions to reignite the Indian and Russian Economies. [Practical Implications] The practical implication lies in the fact that the use of cryptocurrencies is increasing on a daily basis, but neither the national government nor the world organizations has made any steps to control the market for virtual currencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effectiveness of different similarity measures for characterizing vertices and edges in rough graphs, which were introduced to handle imprecise and uncertain information. The authors examine traditional similarity measures like the Jaccard index, Dice coefficient, and overlap measure in this context. Additionally, a new ζ-labeling similarity measure for rough graphs is proposed. The main goal is to perform a comparative analysis evaluating the performance of these diverse similarity measures when applied to rough graphs. Furthermore, the paper computes the energy of rough graphs, defined as the sum of absolute eigenvalues, to demonstrate the superior potency of the proposed ζ-labeling measure compared to the other similarity measures considered. Overall, this work aims to advance techniques for assessing similarity in rough graphs, which have applications in dealing with vague and imprecise data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits and challenges of long-term internships through a comparative analysis of overseas internships, overseas online internships, and domestic internships. The results of the analysis suggest that overseas internships have a positive impact on English language learning and cross-cultural understanding but may pose risks in terms of daily life; while overseas online internships can develop English language and technical skills, they also pose challenges in terms of cross-cultural understanding, maintaining motivation, distance from others, and communication environment; and domestic internships can develop behavior as a member of society and confirm overseas orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes a significant contribution by focusing on estimating the coefficients of a sample of non-linear time series, a subject well-established in the statistical literature, using bilinear time series. Specifically, this study delves into a subset of bilinear models where Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) models serve as the white noise component. The methodology involves applying the Klimko–Nilsen theorem, which plays a crucial role in extracting the asymptotic behavior of the estimators. In this context, the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic model of order (1,1) noted that the GARCH (1,1) model is defined as the white noise for the coefficients of the example models. Notably, this GARCH model satisfies the condition of having time-varying coefficients. This study meticulously outlines the essential stationarity conditions required for these models. The estimation of coefficients is accomplished by applying the least squares method. One of the key contributions lies in utilizing the fundamental theorem of Klimko and Nilsen, to prove the asymptotic behavior of the estimators, particularly how they vary with changes in the sample size. This paper illuminates the impact of estimators and their approximations based on varying sample sizes. Extending our study to include the estimation of bilinear models alongside GARCH and GARCH symmetric coefficients adds depth to our analysis and provides valuable insights into modeling financial time series data. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the influence of the GARCH white noise trace on the estimation of model coefficients. The results establish a clear connection between the model characteristics and the nature of the white noise, contributing to a more profound understanding of the relationship between these elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interconnection of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) has created new opportunities for remote management, data storage in the cloud, real-time data transfer over long distances, or integration between different OT and IT networks. OT networks require increased attention due to the convergence of IT and OT, mainly due to the increased risk of cyber-attacks targeting these networks. This paper focuses on the analysis of different methods and data processing for protocol recognition and traffic classification in the context of OT specifics. Therefore, this paper summarizes the methods used to classify network traffic, analyzes the methods used to recognize and identify the protocol used in the industrial network, and describes machine learning methods to recognize industrial protocols. The output of this work is a comparative analysis of approaches specifically for protocol recognition and traffic classification in OT networks. In addition, publicly available datasets are compared in relation to their applicability for industrial protocol recognition. Research challenges are also identified, highlighting the lack of relevant datasets and defining directions for further research in the area of protocol recognition and classification in OT environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opinions are statements that reflects people's perception or sentiment.In This paper we have done sentimental analysis using two major NLP models - VADER and RoBERTA using sentiment analysis.The study begins with an overview of RoBERTa regarding its pretraining and optimization enabling dynamic data collection. Similarly, the legal status of VADER is explained in terms of being based on dozens of opinions and predetermined rules. We are testing these models using two different dataset customers for evaluating the accuracy and precision of each model in predicting the sentiment of text. The results are analyzed and compared to know the problems and weakness of the models.These tests include training and refinement of RoBERTa's emotional data list model which uses transformer model to process input sequences, while VADER relies on pre-generated lexicon text.Different methods are used to compare the performance of two models and identify their strengths and weaknesses in different situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While major advances have been made over the past years in comparing citizenship laws globally, most measures remain restricted to the law-on-the-books. Knowledge about the implementation of these laws remains limited. This poses the question to what extent these measures correspond with the law as experienced by targeted populations. In order to overcome the implementation gap when comparing and measuring citizenship law globally, this paper addresses the question of how to gain a coherent understanding of implementation. Developing a comprehensive typology, the paper distinguishes three crucial elements of implementation: (1) the entry into force of legal provisions (capturing the applicable state of citizenship law), (2) the interpretation of law (the specific interpretation of legal provisions used by the authorities responsible for their execution), and (3) the application of law (executing legal provisions in practice by the authorities). Subsequently, the paper illustrates how this typology can be applied to the analysis of citizenship law implementation by a case study of dual citizenship acceptance, focusing on the renunciation requirement for naturalisation and dual citizenship treaties. The paper concludes by outlining directions for a comparative research agenda that better corresponds with the lived experience of citizenship laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the impact of digital transformations on the business performance of the meetings, expositions, events, and conventions (MEEC) industry in Chengdu by conducting an empirical analysis of 68 MEEC enterprises in the city. The study employed the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method to explore the pathways and factors involved. Drawing on the theory of synergetics, nine condition variables were carefully selected from four dimensions: digital technologies, digital strategy, digital infrastructure, and digital innovation. The findings revealed that digital transformations were an intricate systematic process, whereby a single factor alone did not serve as a necessary condition for MEEC enterprises to achieve high business performance. The analysis identified five distinct pathways that would lead to high performance, which can be categorized into three distinct models: the "organization-human resources" dominated model, the "human resources-infrastructure" driven model, and the multi-factor coordination model. The analysis also identified two pathways that would result in low performance, categorized as the "basic condition absent" model. Notably, there was substantial heterogeneity observed in the configurational pathways in terms of the magnitude of the impact of digital transformation on business performance across MEEC enterprises of different sizes. This paper suggests that the government should assume the role of a platform, providing policy and financial support to MEEC enterprises to help guide them through the process of digital transformation and that MEEC enterprises themselves should seize the opportunities arising from digital transformation to strengthen their digital infrastructure construction, human resources development, and innovation in brand building. This study presents empirical evidence that contributes to the understanding of the transformation process of MEEC enterprises within the digital economy era, as well as valuable insights into understanding the channels and internal conditions involved in digital transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security, a vital determinant of overall health and well-being, hinges on the simultaneous achievement of four dimensions: physical availability of food, economic and physical access to food, utilization of nutrients, and stability over time. This paper explores the complex and multi-faceted food security situations in Kenya and Zambia, emphasizing key factors such as agricultural production, government policies, and socio-economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: This study aims to identify the differences and similarities in the innovation systems of developing vs. developed countries that influence SMEs' adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. There is a notable absence of comparative research between National Innovation Systems (NIS) of developing and developed countries. Additionally, the current scholarly conversation lacks a holistic view of NIS. Our study aims to fill these gaps by employing Lundvall's framework to explore both developed and developing countries' systems comprehensively. METHODOLOGY: The data was collected through a Systematic Literature Review, identifying a total of 695 publications from SCOPUS, Web of Science (WoS), and ProQuest. The PRISMA process was adhered to, resulting in 32 papers undergoing quality evaluation using Gough's 'weight of evidence' guidelines. Twenty-nine primary papers were selected, comprising twelve from developed countries, another twelve from developing countries, and the remainder from both categories. Using Qualitative Meta-synthesis (QMS) with ATLAS.ti, a systematic alignment of codes with research inquiries pertaining to NIS ensued, revealing a multifaceted spectrum of findings across these scholarly investigations. FINDINGS: We found that there are similarities and differences between the innovation systems of developed and developing nations. The similarities include the intra-firm interactions taking place between managers and workers, inter-firm relations between the SMEs and Academia and other SMEs, as well as the role of the government in providing funding and regulation (albeit at significantly varying degrees). The most significant differences observed were in the funding mechanisms, the role of the government, and the R&D systems. It was found that governments in developed countries provided SMEs with substantial incentives, tax credits, and subsidies to adopt 4IR technologies, which appears to positively impact the adoption rate. We conclude by developing a conceptual framework for the NIS necessary for the adoption of SMEs' 4IR technologies in developing countries. IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to the literature on innovation systems by examining the NIS of both developed and developing countries. This analysis allows us to gain deeper insights into how specific aspects of each country (developed or developing) affect (positively or negatively) SMEs' adoption of 4IR technologies. Practically, it informs governments in developing countries on which aspects to focus on in their NIS to increase the rate of the adoption of 4IR technologies by SMEs. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: A distinctive aspect of this study lies in the creation of a comprehensive conceptual model delineating the essential components of the innovation system pivotal for the successful integration of 4IR technologies within SMEs. This model is designed to serve as a practical tool for governments in developing countries, providing a structured framework to facilitate and enhance the strategic development of their innovation landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous meta-analyses have indicated that aspirin could affect breast cancer outcomes, particularly when taken post-diagnostically. However, several recent studies appear to show little to no association between aspirin use and breast cancer mortality, all-cause mortality, or recurrence. Aims This study aims to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the associations of pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic aspirin use with the aforementioned breast cancer outcomes. It also looks, through subgroup analyses and meta-regressions, at a range of variables that could explain the associations between aspirin use and breast cancer outcomes. Results In total, 24 papers and 149 860 patients with breast cancer were included. Pre-diagnostic aspirin use was not associated with breast-cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.98, 95% CI, 0.80-1.20, P =.84) or recurrence (HR 0.94, 95% CI, 0.88-1.02, P =.13). Pre-diagnostic aspirin was associated with non-significantly higher all-cause mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI, 0.95-1.72, P =.11). Post-diagnostic aspirin was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI, 0.71-1.07, P =.18) or recurrence (HR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.67-1.16, P =.38). Post-diagnostic aspirin use was significantly associated with lower breast-cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.79, 95% CI, 0.64-0.98, P =.032). Conclusions The only significant association of aspirin with breast cancer outcomes is lower breast-cancer-specific mortality in patients who used aspirin post-diagnostically. However, factors such as selection bias and high inter-study heterogeneity mean that this result should not be treated as conclusive, and more substantial evidence such as that provided by RCTs is needed before any decisions on new clinical uses for aspirin should be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the concept of data sovereignty as a discursive practice in light of the populist idea of popular sovereignty and analyzes the digital policies of Western European right-wing populist parties (WEPs). It argues that WEPs use popular sovereignty and data sovereignty in a similar way: as discursive tools to legitimize drawing power back to the national level (with divergent and often contradictory interpretations), rather than workable foundations for policy plans. The paper also discusses how international cooperation, which populists often reject, is a useful tool to achieve data sovereignty. With this contradiction in mind, the paper develops an agent-based typology of data sovereignty as a discursive practice. It then analyzes the most recent official electoral programs of several WEPs: AfD in Germany, PVV and FvD in the Netherlands, UKIP in the UK, Vlaams Belang in Belgium, and Rassemblement National in France. It uses a comparative policy analysis to compare the cases along several data points such as the proposed roles of governments, private companies, and cyber diplomacy. Most of the WEPs under discussion see data sovereignty as synonymous with individual privacy, do not acknowledge the role of international cooperation, and use digital policy as a means of reinforcing their image as challenger parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet platforms significantly facilitate the travel and stay of users. In Europe and the United States, the most widely used platforms are Booking and Airbnb and this paper will provide their comparative analysis of each other. Both platforms use advanced information technologies, such as artificial intelligence and/or recommendation algorithms, to facilitate travel planning and destination selection. Both Booking and Airbnb use machine learning algorithms to analyze data on previous searches and user characteristics. Based on this information, they provide personalized searches and accommodation recommendations or activities that may be of interest to the user. Both platforms also offer user feedback, which is significant in building trust among users and in improving services globally. This paper will analyze key parameters that are taken into account when choosing a tourist service, such as price, location, ratings and reviews, as well as market analysis of these two platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The wide use of the term Cognitive Reserve (CR) is in need of a clear and shared definition of its concept and of the development of new tools, quick and easy to use and updated for the people of today. This study describes the online short CRIq (s-CRIq), the new shorter version of the CRIq, following an item analysis revision, and compares the data distribution of different samples. Methods: The s-CRIq was administered online to 435 people while another 440 filled out the s-CRIq in self-administration. A further 588 participants had been administered the original paper-and-pencil long CRIq and 344 the online long CRIq. Results: The major difference in the databases of s-CRIq versus the long versions is an increased score in education and in leisure activity. However, the density distributions of the total score of CRI in the 4 databases share 64% of their areas, and at least two of them share 84%. Conclusion: The s-CRIq proved to be a simple and easy-to-administer tool. Similarly, to the original version, the s-CRIq is freely available on the web, and it is our hope that it will be of fruitful use for researchers and clinicians alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because a pump-turbine mainly undertakes the role of energy conversion and pumped storage in the field of hydropower engineering, the complex transition process and frequent conversion between different working conditions lead to the increase in the stress and strain of core components such as the unit shaft system, and even cause resonance phenomena. Based on ANSYS finite element numerical calculation software, this paper adopts the acoustic fluid–structure coupling method to study the influence of the shaft of the pump-turbine on the dynamic characteristics of the runner. At the same time, the paper analyses the influence of different contact modes between the runner and the shaft on the modal characteristics of the shaft system. The numerical simulation results have shown that the runner is affected by the added mass of the water. The natural frequency reduction rate of each order of wet modal is ranged from 19% to 64%. The main shaft has a greater influence on the simplification of the shaft system calculation method. The type of contact surface between the main shaft and the runner has a smaller influence on the modal characteristics and the natural frequency of the shaft system. The research in this paper contributes an evaluation of the dynamic characteristics of the runner of a hydraulic turbine unit, which is of great significance for the optimization of the analysis algorithm of the runner structure for large pumped storage units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study on coordinated control of path tracking and vehicle stability for autonomous vehicles on low-friction roads. Generally, a path-tracking controller designed on high-friction roads cannot provide good performance under low-friction conditions. To cope with the problem, a coordinated control between path tracking and vehicle stability has been proposed to date. In this paper, three types of coordinated controllers are classified according to the controller structure. As an actuator, front-wheel steering, four-wheel steering, and four-wheel independent braking and driving are adopted. A common feature of these types of controllers is that front steering and yaw moment control are adopted as control inputs. To convert the yaw moment control into tire forces generated by combinations of multiple actuators, a control allocation method is applied. For each type, a controller is designed and simulated using vehicle simulation software. From the simulation results, a performance comparison among those controller types is carried out. Through comparison, it is shown that there are small differences among those types of controllers in terms of path tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid growing academic discourse on teenagers' political rights, this paper argues that the inclusion of teenagers in the decision-making process at the municipal level has positive effects. Based on qualitative and quantitative research on three municipalities in Greece and Sweden, this paper concludes that a level of awareness of the critical issue of climate change leads to a greater propensity for action from municipal councils aimed at restoring the environment. The findings demonstrate that including teenagers in the decision-making process at the local and regional level could lead to a greater focus on forward-thinking policies, particularly in areas concerning young people, such as environmental preservation efforts and democratic rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs Manipulation Theory and Skopos Theory as theoretical foundations to understand why and how external and internal constraints have affected translators in using translation solutions. This paper has chosen Lao She's Chinese short story, Black Li and White Li, and compared the two translations from Wang Chi-Chen and Lyell A. Williams. A comparison of "patronage", "professionals", and translation solutions shows that the two translators produced remarkable translation works at their time and their translation solutions are worth learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) allows a systematic and transparent comparison of cases while investigating explanatory conditions as sufficient or necessary for an outcome to occur. This paper aims to illustrate the usefulness of QCA in management research. Approach: There are five steps in a standard QCA process: 1) constructing a configurational model and selecting the conditions and outcome of interest, 2) identifying empirical cases and calibrating the data into sets, 3) converting the dataset into a truth table, 4) analysing set relations between the conditions and the outcome and 5) evaluating, interpreting and visualising the findings. We discuss these five steps and illustrate their application with a fictional analysis of configurations of conditions leading to high investment in research and development (R&D). In addition, we review the recent literature on QCA, including its application in management studies. Findings: We provide information on QCA-related resources and events, including workshops and summer schools. Current challenges in the diffusion and development of QCA involve analysing large data samples and including QCA in mixed-methods and multi-method research designs. Future challenges are related to configurational theorising, including time in the analysis and the foundations and procedures on which causal claims are made in QCA. Practical implications: QCA is gaining popularity in management research. Its assumptions about social reality and research procedures align well with management research questions and practices. There are many areas for further development. Nevertheless, QCA is a valuable tool for management researchers. Value: This paper focuses on the use of QCA in management research. It sheds light on the standard procedures involved in QCA and describes the application of QCA in management research based on the current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Compared to younger and older generation migrants, middle-aged migrants in the diaspora seem to be more conflicted regarding their belonging. This paper aims to explore how middle-aged migrants in the diaspora define themselves in space and time. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on ethnographic fieldwork done among Malawian migrants (herein referred to as Lydiatians) settled at Lydiate informal settlement in peri-urban Zimbabwe. Findings: The paper reveals that, while younger migrants have a "radical transnational stance", and older migrants regard their place of settlement as their final home, middle-aged migrants prefer to maintain a "strategic dual sense of place" regarding their place of settlement in the diaspora. These middle-aged migrants can be entrepreneurs considering their current settlement as a strategic place for petty commodity trading or those who find informal settlements to provide needed opportunities for cheap housing as the migrants pursue work in the nearby towns. Practical implications: The paper offers a deeper understanding of how middle-aged migrants navigate their sense of place and contribute to host nations by functioning as key resources, dynamizing local economies through entrepreneurial activities and labour provision for various industries. The implications of this research should encourage states to positively interact with migrants, leveraging their potential for societal and economic development. Originality/value: The finding that migrants in the diaspora have a dual, strategic view of their settlements is fascinating, if not new. Before this, scholars presented migrants as transnational figures, successively moving to a better place, which finally becomes home. However, the data presented in this paper suggests that this characterization associating migrants with maintaining a "stable, sedentary, bounded and fixed perception of home" is oversimplified. This is because migrants can sometimes continue to cherish the idea of informal settlements in the diaspora as home, just as the migrants also entertain the nearby established towns as useful places in their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper presents a statistical analysis of the Gross Domestic Product/person, at the national level, in relation to the member countries of the European Union, using statistical data published by Eurostat, Naational Institute of Statistics (INSSE), FAOSTAT and the World Bank. Based on the data centralization, calculations were made to determine some absolute and relative statistical indicators, such as the absolute change, the dynamic index or the dynamic rate. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and observe GDP per inhabitant evolution, in the period 2017 - 2022, as well as the hierarchy of European member countries, according to this macroeconomic indicator. Going through the work, it can be observed that the order of each member state in different hierarchies based on the GDP level, nominal or real, differs, depending on the perspective from which the data is analyzed. Not always a country with a high level of GDP is characterized by a higher level of well-being of the population. Also, a country that has not yet reached economic maturity in terms of GDP level, may have advantages over the already mature European economic markets over a longer period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its accession to the European Union, Romania has been working to strengthen its support for area-based approaches in local development, including the implementation of the LEADER approach. This has been made possible through increased financial support and the establishment of Local Action Groups (LAGs) throughout the country. The growing number of LAGs in Romania indicates an increasing recognition of the importance of bottomup approaches and local empowerment. LAGs serve as platforms for collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society organizations, and businesses. They enable communities to take ownership of their development processes and design strategies that are tailored to their specific contexts. This paper presents a comparative analysis of LEADER programme implementation in Romania in two programming periods (2007 - 2013 and 2014 - 2020), from the point of view of territorial distribution of funds, type of projects and beneficiaries, using choropleth maps with data at NUTS3 and LAU2 level. The results of the analysis show a modification of the behaviour of public and private beneficiaries, willing to involve their own funds in the realization of their projects, and the LAGs maturity in financing innovative projects and projects that develop existing businesses. The article proposes future research of LEADER impact at national and regional levels from the social return perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When governments acquire third-party social welfare services (SWS), they create institutions of acquisition. The rules and practices that governments adopt define who is able to participate, on what basis, and how prices are determined. This paper conceptualizes the institutions of SWS acquisition, their variations, and implications, in order to contribute to a deeper understanding of the link between contracting and nonprofit commercialisation. Institutions of SWS acquisition include rules of entry, participation, and assessment. Resulting acquisition regimes can be marketised to a greater or lesser extent, and this is influential through its effect on nonprofit competition. Drawing on interviews with public servants and nonprofit staff, the paper compares acquisition regimes for homelessness services in England, a regime that closely resembles a market, and Canada, a regime which is not marketised. In contrast to their non-marketised counterparts, this paper finds that marketised SWS acquisition regimes create incentives for participants to reduce prices by loss-leading or ratcheting down service quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novelty and impact are key characteristics of the scientific enterprise. Classic theories of scientific change distinguish among different types of novelty and emphasize how a new idea interacts with previous work and influences future flows of knowledge. However, even recently developed measures of novelty remain unidimensional, and continued reliance on citation counts captures only the amount, but not the nature, of scientific impact. To better align theoretical and empirical work, we attend to different types of novelty (new results, new theories, and new methods) and whether a scientific offering has a consolidating form of influence (bringing renewed attention to foundational ideas) or a disruptive one (prompting subsequent scholars to overlook them). By integrating data from the Web of Science (to measure the nature of influence) with essays written by authors of Citation Classics (to measure novelty type), and by joining computational text analysis with statistical analyses, we demonstrate clear and robust patterns between type of novelty and the nature of scientific influence. As expected, new methods tend to be more disruptive, whereas new theories tend to be less disruptive. Surprisingly, new results do not have a robust effect on the nature of scientific influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate ideology is perceived as a set of fundamental beliefs held by company members about how the company and its members should behave in relation to one another and the outside world. In this paper, corporate ideology is treated as the basis for creating an organization's identity and as an extremely important factor in its success. The aim of this paper is to analyze the corporate ideologies of banks operating in the Republic of Croatia, to classify different ideologies, and finally, to determine what kind of identity the surveyed banks communicate through their corporate ideologies. A comparative and content analysis are applied as qualitative methods of research of an interpretative character. The corporate ideologies of two of the analyzed banks (ZABA and Erste) are described as social institutionalism, and PBZ's ideology is labeled as social corporatism. Detected corporate ideologies do not serve to build the authenticity of banks' identities. The main novelty of this research is in the methodology of reaching corporate ideologies. Unlike previous works on corporate ideology, in this paper public messages communicated in (digital) media were the main sources for the analysis of an organization's core values and ideologies resulting from it. Also, a simple framework for the possible classification of different corporate ideologies was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare field has experienced a significant increase in data generation due to the emergence of modern applications and the internet. Consequently, understanding and extracting meaningful information from these extensive datasets has become a critical factor in the success of any application in this sector. Digital analytics and classification tools can assist in handling the challenges of processing large datasets to produce highly consistent, logical, and information-rich summaries. This paper presents several analytics methodologies based on literature that can be used as pre-processing steps to determine dataset characteristics. The study conducted a comparative analysis of twelve classification algorithms using two international datasets to measure their efficiency accurately. The outcome of the analysis step will assist researchers in selecting the most suitable algorithm for each dataset's characteristics, resulting in more organized and thorough results. The study revealed that four algorithms, namely Logitboost, Random Forest, XGBoost, and Multilayer Perceptron, achieved the best accuracy. The XGBoost algorithm, which produced the highest accuracy, was used to classify new CBC datasets collected from various hospitals in Iraq for Hematology studies and statistics. Future research should investigate combining algorithms to leverage their benefits while overcoming their limitations. Overall, using digital analytics tools and algorithms in healthcare can provide critical insights into large datasets, leading to improved disease diagnosis outcomes and the advancement of medical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquiring information about one's child's cancer diagnosis is a complex and ever-changing process, and parents' needs change over time. As yet, we know little about what information parents require at different stages of their child's illness. This paper is part of a larger randomized control trial studying the parent-centered information given to mothers and fathers. The aim of this paper was to describe the topics addressed in person-centered meetings between nurses and parents of children with cancer and how those changed over time. Using qualitative content analysis, we analyzed nurses' written summaries of 56 meetings with 16 parents and then computed for each topic the percentage of parents who brought it up at any time during the intervention. The main categories were Child's disease and treatment (addressed by 100% of parents), Consequences of treatment (88%), Emotional management for the child (75%), Emotional management for the parent (100%), Social life of the child (63%), and Social life of the parent (100%). Different topics were addressed at different points in time, and fathers raised more concerns about the child's emotional management and the consequences of treatment than mothers. This paper suggests that parental information demands change over time and differ between fathers and mothers, implying that information should be person-centered. Registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02332226). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digitization of health records and health delivery processes in health care settings may have an impact on the Patient-Physician communication, wait times, that affect the overall patient satisfaction with the health care services. Aim & Objective: We ascertained the effect of digitization of medical case files on the doctor patient relationship (DPR) domain of patient satisfaction at an urban primary health center in India. Settings and Design: Comparative, cross-sectional study in primary health centres. Methods and Material: The patient satisfaction was compared between the patients attending the Public Health Dispensary (PHD) that uses digitized medical case file system and a Civil Dispensary (CD) which follows the conventional paper based medical records, using a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Statistical analysis used: Univariate analysis was done by chi-square test and adjusted analysis was done by multiple linear regression. Results: Patient satisfaction in DPR was found to be similar between the digitized medical case files based and conventional OPD (p=0.453). Significantly higher overall patient satisfaction was reported in the conventional paper based OPD than the digitized OPD (p<0.001). Conclusions: Patient satisfaction towards the doctor-patient relationship (DPR) was similar between paper based OPD and the digitized medical case files based OPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Person-centered approaches, such as latent profile analysis (LPA) and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), have gained in popularity in organizational scholarship because of their ability to provide insight into how interrelations between a group of conditions can lead to a particular outcome. Despite the growing acceptance of person-centered approaches in social science research, traditional variable-centered approaches continue to prevail, although their dominance is increasingly questioned. This paper offers in-depth analysis of the current state of QCA and LPA from both a conceptual and a bibliometric perspective. This study thus aims to contextualize the role of person-centered methodologies in organizational scholarship. This aim is important, given the significance of exploring novel approaches to advance knowledge in organizational research. This paper provides scholars with quantifiable and readily comparable information on the use of these emerging but promising methods in organizational studies. Ultimately, this scientific contribution sheds light on the current and prospective applications of person-centered methods in research. Moreover, it offers scholars who are considering applying these methods objective analysis of the scientific production in this area thus far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the dual background of risk society and the fourth scientific and technological revolution, digital emergency management (DEM) research has attracted wide attention worldwide. Based on the comparative analysis of data from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, the research draws the knowledge map by CiteSpace, in order to analyse the spatiotemporal distribution, hotspots, and trends of DEM research. The following are the results: (1) DEM research shows a spiral growth, with a significant increase in the number of papers. Existing highly cited references are mainly carried out from the perspective of management or technology. (2) The complex countries' cooperation network has been formed from the USA, China, and other countries; the complexity of the institutions' cooperation network must be strengthened, and the density of the authors' cooperation network is low; DEM research has significant interdisciplinary attributes. (3) The hotspots of DEM research can be divided into three categories: means, processes, and objects, but the research emphases between international and China are different. (4) The evolution of DEM research can be divided into three stages between international and China: embryonic, development, and deepening stages, and research contents in each stage show some differences. (5) The trends of DEM research between international and China are different. The former are information technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, whereas the latter are emergency decision making, scenario analysis, and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain is increasingly gaining interest in both the academic and professional worlds. The implementation of this decentralised and distributed network has started taking place, firstly in the financial world and in recent years reaching to other industries. Nevertheless, not all blockchain networks are the same, and choosing the right consensus algorithm is important for companies willing to invest in this technology. Companies eager to implement blockchain should understand the underlying architecture when selecting a particular network. Through an in-depth analysis, this paper aims to explore and compare from a technical perspective the three biggest permissionless blockchain networks by market capitalisation: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple. Our research shows that Bitcoin gains a competitive advantage as a widely adopted means of payment, Ethereum excels in adopting a robust and flexible smart contract functionality whilst Ripple is most suitable for cross-border payments due to its scalability and fast processing speed. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the networks and their consensus protocols, this paper is designed to set the ground for further studies on the emerging applications of blockchain in numerous sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As the population ages, the prevalence of cognitive impairment is expanding. Given the recent pandemic, there is a need for remote testing modalities to assess cognitive deficits in individuals with neurological disorders. Self-administered, remote, tablet-based cognitive assessments would be clinically valuable if they can detect and classify cognitive deficits as effectively as traditional in-person neuropsychological testing. Methods: We tested whether the Miro application, a tablet-based neurocognitive platform, measured the same cognitive domains as traditional pencil-and-paper neuropsychological tests. Seventy-nine patients were recruited and then randomized to either undergo pencil-and-paper or tablet testing first. Twenty-nine age-matched healthy controls completed the tablet-based assessments. We identified Pearson correlations between Miro tablet-based modules and corresponding neuropsychological tests in patients and compared scores of patients with neurological disorders with those of healthy controls using t tests. Results: Statistically significant Pearson correlations between the neuropsychological tests and their tablet equivalents were found for all domains with moderate (r > 0.3) or strong (r > 0.7) correlations in 16 of 17 tests (p < 0.05). All tablet-based subtests differentiated healthy controls from neurologically impaired patients by t tests except for the spatial span forward and finger tapping modules. Participants reported enjoyment of the tablet-based testing, denied that it provoked anxiety, and noted no preference between modalities. Conclusions: This tablet-based application was found to be widely acceptable to participants. This study supports the validity of these tablet-based assessments in the differentiation of healthy controls from patients with neurocognitive deficits in a variety of cognitive domains and across multiple neurological disease etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address environmental problems, efforts to green financial systems are proliferating across the globe. However, green finance policy approaches differ substantially and in ways left unexplained in current literature. Focusing on the EU and China as the most active and influential in green finance, the paper provides a comparative analysis and conceptualization of their approaches. The analysis is based on the dissection of policy documents, a review of stakeholder statements and articles, and insights from semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The paper finds that in terms of similar characteristics, both parties seek inclusive expertise input, establish thematic committees, and initiate green finance efforts through financial system-wide guidelines. In terms of different characteristics, the paper finds that through a consultation-based, transparent, and limited mandate approach, the EU is characterized by longer time horizons and organic growth. This can be contrasted with the Chinese technocratic, closed-door, and non-limited mandate approach, characterized by rapid rollout and command-and-control growth. These findings can be conceptualized as a bottom-up market-facilitating approach in the EU and a top-down market-steering approach in China. The different approaches help explain current difficulties in coordination between the EU and China and imply that cooperation is only possible through compatibility rather than harmonization. The findings show that different governance models can actively use the state to pursue sustainable development, and second that such an active state can function in very different ways towards the same goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long period institutions were either ignored as a relevant economic growth factor or taken as given in standard economic growth theory. The new institutional theory identifies institutional quality as a fundamental factor for the difference in the level of economic development among the countries. Based on the relevant literature and the available data and empirical analysis, this theory seems to the point. The purpose of the paper is to review the characteristics of institutions and to identify their role in achieving economic growth and development in modern societies and economies. The paper is structured in several parts. The first part reviews the new theories, with the main focus on institutional theories, that are elaborating on the linkages between the quality and efficiency of the institutions and their role in sustaining economic growth, and at the same time, they are highlighting the primary importance of the institutions in achieving economic growth. The second part of the paper elaborates on the transmission mechanisms through which institutions impact economic growth. In the third part, a comparative analysis of the quality, capacity, and (in)/efficiency of the institutions in North Macedonia and selected countries from the Region is given. For the purpose of the paper, available data from relevant international organizations are used, such as the World Bank, and Transparency International, which are suitable for the identification of the quality, efficiency, and capacity of institutions. Based on the available data, qualitative and quantitative analyses are performed by the authors. At the end of the paper, a summary overview of the impact of institutions on sustaining economic growth in а long run, based on the conducted analysis within the paper, is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landforms of the United States (1939) by Erwin Raisz is one of the best examples of cartographic excellence depicting the landscape based on underpinning geological structure. With the block diagram as the foundation for landform mapping, this paper details the development of the landform map comparing works and lives of two of the most prominent physiographic landform cartographers, Erwin Raisz and Armin K. Lobeck, who each had Dr. Douglas Johnson as a PhD advisor at Columbia University. Comparing the 1921 Physiographic Diagram of the United States by Lobeck with the 1939 Raisz map, this paper argues that Raisz far exceeded Lobeck in the articulation of the landscape by way of the map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]